Road planners, drivers must face future

Credit: Cathy Wilcox

To submit a letter to The Age, email [e-mail]. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.

TRANSPORT

I have no expertise in town planning, however, I despair at the headline “State told no time to lose over $31b road”, (14/7). It demonstrates that thinking among people who are responsible for our future urban transport still have their heads in the same place as American transport planners for the past 100 years.
I do know that our current over-dependence on road transport and the way we think about cities is not the only way. Ideas such as 15-minute cities where people can access most facilities within 15 minutes of environmentally friendly movement, the need to be able to access natural spaces, a built environment that feels safe and connected rather that busy, dangerous, roads dividing communities, movement of people that emits as little gas and fine particle rubbish as possible, are already out there. The needs of people and the environment require a deeper discussion involving far more people than a ha
ndful of “experts” locked in the past.
Howard Tankey, Box Hill North

Announce rail like you mean it
You have to hand it to the road lobby. Even though it has been proved for years and years that building roads never solves congestion, here we are faced with another huge money-guzzling project. This so-called solution to rising population and traffic congestion has eight lanes of traffic and a four-track rail line. No doubt the rail line will be scrapped as it has in all the other freeway projects. Let’s get on with rail planning that will have positive results for Melbourne.
Rod Oaten, North Carlton

What about an outer metro line too?
Re “Calls for construction to start on an outer ring road are expected as Melbourne grows”, (14/7). At the same time, an outer ring (rail) metro rail should proceed, as this would save billions when a cut and cover method is used.
David Robertson, Wheatsheaf

Great Ocean Road builders knew how
Government planners for the new 100-kilometre outer metropolitan ring road have estimated the cost will be $31 billion and take 15 years to build. The Great Ocean Road, which is 240 kilometres long and largely built on cliff faces, took the same amount of time and cost an astonishing $15 million when adjusted for inflation. How has construction efficiency gone so far backwards in less than 100 years?
Nick O’Donoghue, Elwood

Limit older drivers to newer cars
Many newer vehicles have active safety features such as pedestrian and obstacle recognition. The car will thus brake immediately once these are detected. My car even does it when I am reversing if an obstacle, such as a child, is walking behind the car. Perhaps a licence condition for older drivers should be that they can only drive vehicles that have these safety features.
Graeme Daniels, Balwyn North

Problem not age, it’s danger
Your correspondent (Letters, 14/7) refers to her ″⁣dear, elderly gentleman″⁣ and her successful efforts to get him off the road. I’d like a dollar for every young mother I’ve seen, rushing at speed past a school while on a mobile. Or, every criminally unsafe male driver between the ages of 18-35 doped up to the eyeballs or off their face on booze. Or, come to think of it, middle-aged men who plough into a group at a pub. The issue is danger to others on the road.
Carmel Boyle, Alfredton

P-plate driver assessment too
On my way home from shopping I witnessed a crash. It was in part caused by the abysmally designed intersection resulting from level crossing removal, but mostly human error. Both drivers were decades younger than I am and the crash was caused by one driver turning right in front of oncoming traffic. That driver was a P-plater. Should all P-plate drivers be assessed to see if they are fit to drive?
Helen Moss, Croydon

Self-report shortfalls
Associate Professor Sjaan Koppel of Monash University Accident Research Centre states that mandatory testing of older drivers is “not effective” in preventing accidents, as studies show “no significant difference in older driver crash rates” where these tests are in place (″⁣Victoria to weigh up elderly driver tests after Wantirna South crash″⁣, 11/7).
But is the value of a mandatory testing program measured purely by the numbers of crashes on our roads? Under mandatory testing, the onus is not placed on individual drivers to “self-report” if they suspect their driving skills have declined. Furthermore, mandatory testing means that family members of older drivers are not being forced to intervene to prevent their loved ones from getting behind the wheel. Is this not a preferable situation to what is currently happening in Victoria?
Justin Shaw, Ringwood East

Risk is a fact
As an older driver, and a former doctor prevention-focused for 50 years, I well understand the importance of balancing individual convenience with community safety, and that driving is a privilege. Competence is affected by multiple factors at any age. Risk can never be completely eliminated.
Older drivers are generally slower, more careful, and less aggressive; however, rate and degree of physical and cognitive decline varies uniquely. Without an obvious catastrophic medical event, choosing when progressive age-related risk becomes unacceptable is not always easy for driver or doctor.
While some patients realistically grasped empathic explanation of risk, and responsibly ceased driving, others, (or their family), abruptly terminated our previously effective therapeutic relationship of decades. My own father shunned me for two years for such honest discussion aged 88.
Less understandable are lack of uniform national guidelines, and the response from VicRoads to my notification of the number plate of a clearly impaired elderly driver. I had observed the driver mounting the kerb at the ticket machine in a car park, losing her side mirror, then continuing to meander towards the parking area. I was informed nothing could be done because I wasn’t her GP.
Joe Di Stefano, Geelong

Seventy years a driver
As I became a super-ager, I decided to stop driving. This was very hard to do after 70 years behind the wheel; it meant relying on others for every outing, to the shops, the library and the ever-increasing medical appointments, and it played havoc with my social life. Mark you, I bet I’m still a better driver than many on the roads today – it would be fun to see them attempt a hook turn when they can’t manage to turn legally on a suburban street.
Margaret Ady, Avondale Heights

THE FORUM

Right to die
Your headline ″⁣We wouldn’t let a dog go through this’: The state wouldn’t help him die, so Glenn stopped eating” (14/7) is correct. When will the “right to life” include the “right to die”? I will do the same as Glenn Mack given similar circumstances. That said, I take my hat off to Dan Andrews for having achieved what he did with the current dying with dignity legislation. But the time has come to update that legislation.
Howard Brownscombe, Brighton

Vale Glenn Mack
Well done, Glenn Mack. Glenn has again highlighted the well-known fear of those who age with disability. Disability is frequently feared more than death itself. Historically, older people feared incarceration in psychiatric facilities for expressing a wish to die or embarking on a hunger strike. Many do not confide in their GPs for this reason.
Fortunately for Glenn, he was able to confide in his doctor and had family support. Clear statements from people before or at the time of dementia diagnosis should make them eligible for VAD at a designated time in their illness.
Liz Caird, Bendigo

Segal misjudges
Antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal attacked the ABC last week (″⁣Antisemitism envoy singles out ABC reporting in stoush over ’manipulated narratives″⁣ (11/7), and has recommended that universities be penalised if they fail to address antisemitism.
The recent unlawful attacks on synagogues and Jewish properties is unAustralian. Why has this occurred and how can we stop it?
When the leader of Israel, justifiably defends itself against a brutal attack by Hamas, it does not have the right or justification to murder thousands of innocent women and children for months, preventing medical aid and food from reaching injured, starving and harmless people. Our young university students see them as their mothers, sisters and brothers.
European migrants like myself, are not antisemitic and support Israel, but view the behaviour of Benjamin Netanyahu as an accused war criminal who has lost the support of the majority of the Israeli population.
Jillian Segal would be wise not to misjudge a large proportion of the Australian people who view Netanyahu as the principal cause of recent public demonstrations and growing concern with his abuse of power to save his own political skin and criminal accusations.
Rob Kalkman, South Melbourne

Another envoy needed
To have an envoy appointed one year ago to advise the government on issues of concern for 0.5 per cent of the population is fine. This was created without a referendum. I wonder why 3.5 per cent of the population who are Indigenous cannot likewise have an avenue to provide advice on their concerns.
Patty Pavlidis-Cutter, Altona Meadows

Paw prints and emissions
Australians have one of the highest carbon footprints in the world and our consumption is boosted by the income we earn from exporting fossil fuels. But what about our paw prints? The ″⁣huge increase in pets in the City of Melbourne″⁣ (″⁣Alpha dogs scary″⁣, 14/7) suggests pets might become another sector like transport and agriculture.
The primary source of carbon emissions from dogs is their meat-based diet and some calculations have their emissions around 20 per cent of an internal combustion engine vehicle. Fortunately, dogs are omnivores and the embedded carbon in their food can be reduced by feeding insect-based protein dog food – with veterinary approval, of course.
Without such action, Melbourne’s carbon paw print will jump like Nimble, the kelpie.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn

AFL not out
“We will continue to work together to improve our game as a safe and inclusive environment for all,” said the AFL’s head of integrity and security Tony Keane.
A way to go, Tony. As an out gay man I have never felt unsafe in the crowd, but on the field?
Come on fellas, do you still feel unsafe? Or, will we have an Adam Goodes moment, when the f-word is shouted by someone in the crowd at a gay player, rather than a racist slur aimed at an Indigenous player.
Education is so important. An out gay AFL player playing for one of the 18 clubs could help such education as a role model for young gay people watching, and importantly for those males in the crowd uncomfortable with a masculinity different to theirs.
Gryff Jamieson-Ballard, Castlemaine

MCC’s new normal
I completely agree with Tony Lupton with regard to “entertainment” at the MCG, however, I think he’s missing the point (“Going to the MCG is now like being trapped in a nightclub” 11/7.)
I think the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) and AFL are now gearing everything to the younger attendees who don’t even seem to hear the noise or see the flashing lights, music, moving screens on boundaries. It’s part of their life outside football and therefore enjoyable when they attend.
From my observations and those of friends of a similar age who attend different club games, it’s all about social connection. They arrive in groups and meet similar age groups nearby. Lots of chatter, lots of leaving for food/drink at different times, often during the first bounce or when a critical goal is about to be kicked, squeezing past with many “sorrys”.
They are unfailingly polite but don’t think to go out at quarter/half-time. It’s when the need takes them. Lovely to see them there and a good way to meet others and make new friends. For us of the older generation, I can see no change in the foreseeable future, but there’s always the replay on the screen (with lots of noise).
Diana Posner, Brighton

Travel credits
Why bother about hacking points by outsiders? The airlines run their own racket. During COVID, I cancelled a Jetstar holiday due to contracting the virus. I was offered a refund, which Jetstar later changed to a credit note without consulting me. Despite three letters to the CEO, the response is that I cannot get a refund, I must use the credit note.
I tried using the credit note to book a flight, but the flight price was higher than its advertised flight if I used the credit note. Surprisingly, by the value of the credit note too. And no guarantee I could fly with my wife, that ticket had to be booked separately.
I have a heart condition, pacemaker fitted, and now also have a serious lung issue. Its answer? We have extended the expiry date.
What about the promised and agreed refund? Sorry, we have helped you to the fullest extent available to us.
Peter Rebbechi, Kilmore

AND ANOTHER THING

Trump world

I don’t recall anyone in Australia voting for Trump to run PBS, trade, defence, media, taxation etc. for Australia. I thought we elected our government for this purpose.
Ross Beamsley, Moe

Is questioning Australian support in wartime when our prime minister is in China a coincidence? I suspect not.
Barbara Lynch, South Yarra

Furthermore
If the 30,000 military personnel with their expensive “kit” who are about to embark on “war games″⁣ around northern Australia, was matched by 30,000 humanitarian aid workers with life-giving resources, peace would have a chance.
Jenny Smithers, Ashburton

Hear, hear, Tim Costello! Let’s get our priorities right: people not bombs; humanity not war (″⁣When defence budgets grow, humanitarian aid shrinks″⁣, 14/7).
Anne Sgro, Coburg North

The supposedly confidential Treasury advice exposes the elephant in the room, namely that it’s beyond time that we acknowledge that taxes must increase unless we are prepared to tolerate poorer quality basic services that we’ve previously taken for granted.
Kevin Burke, Sandringham

No time to lose! (″⁣State told no time to lose over $31b road, 14/7). If only it were a headline championing public transport infrastructure, instead of yet another freeway.
Peter McGill, Lancefield

For a Boomer, the school holidays are a blessing. Our quiet street is spared the twice-daily hectic, kamikaze school run by entitled and privileged parents. Maybe they, too, should be tested!
George Reed, Wheelers Hill

I think it’s time we had an anti-all-kinds-of-racism envoy.
Tim Durbridge, Brunswick

Finally
People who say that cannabis is a ″⁣gateway drug″⁣ to more drug usage might be right. My experience over decades tells me the first drug used by most people is alcohol.
John Rawson, Mernda

The opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.